Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Plantronics BackBeat Fit

The feature works really well in preventing outside noise from intruding into your music listening experience. Also, there are very little to no reports of a feeling of pressure in the ears when the feature is active.

The sound tuning of these headphones is focused on the lower frequencies. The bass is quite powerful with good sub-bass extension. Users who listen to a lot of hip-hop, dance and bass-heavy music will certainly enjoy the oomph that these headphones can give. The mids sound natural and smooth, yet the lower regions of these frequencies can be overwhelmed by the powerful bass. The highs are crisp and clear though, which prevents the sound from getting too muddy.

Soft foam and leather are used in the interior and exterior of the ear pads respectively which makes them feel really soft and smooth on the head. The same material choices can be found in the headband.

The Smart Pause feature detects if you are removing or putting on your headphones. These gestures will trigger the music to pause or play automatically.

When in wireless mode, you do not need to use buttons in order to control the functions of the headphones. The right ear cup lets you control the headphones through touch gestures. You can swipe left or right for next or previous track, swipe up or down to increase or decrease the volume or tap on the ear cup to pause or play track as well as answer or end calls.

You can set just how much noise is cancelled by the headphones, from maximum active noise cancelling, to an ambient mode which allows some sound into the headphones. You can also turn the feature off entirely.

These headphones are quite effective at preventing sound leakage, and also passively block out noise really well. This is achieved by the closed ear cup design along with the effective seal from the leather-surfaced ear pads.

You can twist the ear cups and then fold them into the headband for a smaller, more travel friendly size. In this state, it should take up a lot less space inside your bag for less hassle when used on the go.

Sennheiser offers the CapTune smartphone app which allows users to see the battery level of the headphones, adjust the headphones' EQ, and control other functions.

The case is made from a tough fabric material which should protect the headphones from minor bumps and scratches.

Connectivity with source devices is via Bluetooth, so in place of a full headphone cable is a flexible, soft and short cord made of rubber material that keeps the earpieces connected. You won't have to deal with a long and dangling cable.

The highs are not the most detailed, but they are clear and do give an airy feel to the music. The mids are full and forward so vocals will definitely sound great.

Bass is hit or miss though, depending on how well these headphones seal in your ear. If there is a good seal then bass is punchy and tight though not very powerful. Otherwise, it is likely that the bass will sound a bit on the thin side.

The case can be converted into an armband by reversing it inside out. This is very useful as you can use the arm band to store your smartphone while on a run, along with some essentials like your keys or some cash.

The ear tips are made out of a soft and flexible material that is comfortable and supports the weight of the earpieces quite well. This is enhanced by the wing tips that further help to keep the headphones in place.

The design does not create a thorough seal in your ears, which can be a good thing as this will allow you to maintain awareness of what's around you.

The BackBeat Fit can last up to 8 hours of playback from a full charge.

A sweat resistant coating is applied to the interior parts, so splashes of liquid aren't likely to cause damage.

Each of the earpieces have a single button. Different combinations of presses will allow you to pause/play tracks, answer/end calls, adjust volume and do other functions which can be convenient.

The audio from the microphone is not amazing, but it is quite clear with no distortion so it should be good for most conversations.